Why Do So Many Believers Think Atheists Are Worse Than Rapists?

"We're here! We're godless! Get used to it!," chanted the crowd of 20,000 or so atheists at this past weekend's Rally for Reason in Washington, D.C. As the chant suggests, the protesters styled their event on the National Mall as a "coming out" party for atheists.

Why is religion so persistent and pervasive in the USA? I wouldn't expect to be treated differently in the UK because I am atheist.

Most UK politicians are quite openly agnostic or simply find the subject of religion uninteresting. It's not easy to provide a list of them because, well, who cares? There is a long list: Nick Clegg (current Deputy PM), Ex Labour leaders Neil Kinnock and Michael Foot, and Opposition Leader Ed Miliband "is Jewish, but doesn't believe in God".

This religiousity is pernicious and superstitious too. In previous generation,s people didn't seriously seem to believe that the Bible should be taken litterally or that Jesus died for our sins. They weren't stupid.

The US populace is "fundamental"ly not rational in any context. It is not just religion. That speaks to the school system, but also to a more systematic application of game theory by elites to foster the wildly more exaggerated concentration of wealth here.

>Finally, I would like to comment on the folly of faith. When faith rules over facts, magical thinking becomes deeply ingrained and warps all areas of life. It produces a frame of mind in which concepts are formulated with deep passion but without the slightest attention paid to the evidence. Nowhere is this more evident than in the US today, where Christians who seek to convert the nation into a theocracy dominate the Republican party. Blind faith is no way to run a world.

The US populace is "fundamental"ly not rational in any context. It is not just religion. That speaks to the school system, but also to a more systematic application of game theory by elites to foster the wildly more exaggerated concentration of wealth here.>Finally, I would like to comment on the folly of faith. When faith rules over facts, magical thinking becomes deeply ingrained and warps all areas of life. It produces a frame of mind in which concepts are formulated with deep passion but without the slightest attention paid to the evidence. Nowhere is this more evident than in the US today, where Christians who seek to convert the nation into a theocracy dominate the Republican party. Blind faith is no way to run a world.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-stenger/...

Thanks. Interesting. This line that surprised me slightly: "But no one worships a god who does nothing". I wonder if that's true?

Intuitively, one might think it must be but I sometimes wonder if religionists even give religion that much thought. People suffer terrible personal tragedy and loss, but appear to conclude that 'God moves in mysterious ways'.

<quoted text>Thanks. Interesting.This line that surprised me slightly: "But no one worships a god who does nothing".I wonder if that's true?Intuitively, one might think it must be but I sometimes wonder if religionists even give religion that much thought. People suffer terrible personal tragedy and loss, but appear to conclude that 'God moves in mysterious ways'.

Nope, they believe in an active gawd, if you're talking about the jeesus freeeks.

"Why Do So Many Believers Think Atheists Are Worse Than Rapists"Because theists are taught from birth that anyone who doesn't believe the way they do is bad. Hatred of anything different is the primitive base for most religions.

Because, on some level, they get that what they believe is silly, so anyone who says so out loud is an existential threat to the common delusion. Religion is quite useful to the elites. It keeps the eyes of the poor on the imaginary heaven, so they don't see the injustices done to them on earth. Religion buttresses the status quo. Atheism is questioning, which always threatens the status quo. Hence, the people who benefit from the way things are always line up to suppress people who ask questions, especially questions whose answers discomfit the wealthy and powerful.

While it certainly doesn't affect me one way or the other, I just hope that all of you above posters realize that you are going to spend eternity in Hell forever because of your wanton refusal to believe in the TRUTH. Jesus IS The Only Way !

In the last century alone, atheists have been at the forefront of murdering in cold blood over 200 Million people, not including the many abortions they've encouraged and abetted... 56 Million in America alone. This makes atheism and it's political orientations the most dangerous elements on earth.

While it certainly doesn't affect me one way or the other, I just hope that all of you above posters realize that you are going to spend eternity in Hell forever because of your wanton refusal to believe in the TRUTH. Jesus IS The Only Way !Don't forget to bring the marshmallows !:)PEACE !

The koran says that all non-muslims are damned to hell. The same reason you do not lose any sleep over that fact, nor does it impel you to immediately convert to islam is the reason that I am completely underwhelmed by your feeble threat.

The US populace is "fundamental"ly not rational in any context. It is not just religion. That speaks to the school system, but also to a more systematic application of game theory by elites to foster the wildly more exaggerated concentration of wealth here.>Finally, I would like to comment on the folly of faith. When faith rules over facts, magical thinking becomes deeply ingrained and warps all areas of life. It produces a frame of mind in which concepts are formulated with deep passion but without the slightest attention paid to the evidence. Nowhere is this more evident than in the US today, where Christians who seek to convert the nation into a theocracy dominate the Republican party. Blind faith is no way to run a world.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-stenger/...

is it "rational" that there was a huge explosion five billion years age, and life "just developed"? perhaps to you. and that is fine. if you don't want to believe in God, don't! your choice. but you seem so angry at the believers. why so much anger and disdain? live and let live...

2:59 pm, Thursday, March 29, 2012:RE: Why Do So Many Believers Think Atheists Are Worse Than Rapists?..... Why do so very many of the believers on this planet break laws of all kinds, civil and criminal, do not follow the lifestyle of Jesus, nor follow ONLY HIS teachings?

<quoted text>is it "rational" that there was a huge explosion five billion years age, and life "just developed"? perhaps to you. and that is fine. if you don't want to believe in God, don't! your choice. but you seem so angry at the believers. why so much anger and disdain? live and let live...

More rational than 'a magical being poofed it all into existence, along with talking snakes, magical fruit and the devil, and this amazing being cares deeply about the sex life of every being on earth.'

"Why Do So Many Believers Think Atheists Are Worse Than Rapists"Because theists are taught from birth that anyone who doesn't believe the way they do is bad. Hatred of anything different is the primitive base for most religions.

Unless you weren't an atheist from birth, like me. I was never taught anything. I chose my own path.

<quoted text>is it "rational" that there was a huge explosion five billion years age, and life "just developed"? perhaps to you. and that is fine. if you don't want to believe in God, don't! your choice. but you seem so angry at the believers. why so much anger and disdain? live and let live...

So you're saying you think the earth is under 10000 years old?

I'm not angry at believers, per se, I'm angry at talibangelical oppressors and pogrom seekers within each of the three Abrahamic religions. This formulation does not include the non talibangelical Christians, Jews and Muslims.

The theory of how life evolved is what's called "testable," Jethro. Major parts of the process have been duplicated in the lab. How matter and energy came to be is a total mystery, if it wasn't eternal, but this teleological problem is also faced by literal gawd believers, who long ago put their mind on auto pilot.

In the last century alone, atheists have been at the forefront of murdering in cold blood over 200 Million people, not including the many abortions they've encouraged and abetted... 56 Million in America alone. This makes atheism and it's political orientations the most dangerous elements on earth.

Nonsense. What helps people to kill each other is telling them God's on their side.

<quoted text>So you're saying you think the earth is under 10000 years old?I'm not angry at believers, per se, I'm angry at talibangelical oppressors and pogrom seekers within each of the three Abrahamic religions. This formulation does not include the non talibangelical Christians, Jews and Muslims.The theory of how life evolved is what's called "testable," Jethro. Major parts of the process have been duplicated in the lab. How matter and energy came to be is a total mystery, if it wasn't eternal, but this teleological problem is also faced by literal gawd believers, who long ago put their mind on auto pilot.

if it helps you to feel good about yourself to belittle believers, go for it. i assure you that my mind is not on auto pilot, however...

the Big bang started 13.7 billion years ago, not just 5. On the other hand, the Earth is only 4.5 billion years old. There were 9 billion years between the Big Bang and when the Earth formed.

and life "just developed"?

Well, it developed through the laws of chemistry and physics from the materials that existed on the early Earth. Not quite sure what you mean by 'just developed'.

perhaps to you. and that is fine. if you don't want to believe in God, don't! your choice. but you seem so angry at the believers. why so much anger and disdain? live and let live...

Because the believers want to take over the govenrment, the schools and have them teach their superstition in place of science in science classes. If they would leave people alone, there wouldn't be a problem.

Tell me when this thread is updated:

Add your comments below

Please note by submitting this form you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator. Send us your feedback.